Bottle crate



Aug; 15, 1944. B|TNEY 2,355,946

BOTTLE CRATE Filed July 7, 1941 v 4 Sheets-Sheet l I INV EN 1OR Dewe/ Bil/7e BY mflw fi I ATTORNEYS.

v Aug. 15, 1944.

D. H. BITNEY BOTTLE CRATE FiledJuly 'r, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Dzwe H 25227267 BY 6 I A TORNEYS.

Aug. 15, 1944. n- I 2,355,946

BOTTLE CRATE Filed July 7, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 'INVENTOR.

Dew/e7 517/7 67 A lTORNE YS.

Patented Aug. 15, 1944 BOTTLE CRATE Dewey H. Bitncy, Albion,

Mich, assignor to Union Steel Products Company, Albion, Mich. Application July 7, 1941, Serial No. 401,305

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in bottle crates.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an improved bottle crate which is very strong and durable, the parts constituting the bottom and compartment members being so arranged as to provide a construction having the general characteristics of a truss.

Second, to provide a bottle crate in which the members constituting the compartments are so formed and arranged as to provide an effective means for guiding bottles into the compartments and minimizing likelihood of injury to the bottles.

Third, to provide a crate of the type described which is exceedingly sturdy and resistant to distortion, yet in which the cost of production has been reduced to a minimum by reason of economy of material and simplification of the assembling operation.

Objects pertaining to details and economies of the invention will definitely appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

A structure embodying the features of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a bottle crate embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top perspective view.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail view partially broken away and in section, illustrating the method of fabricating and securing the compartment side members or partitions.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed view in section on a line corresponding to line 5-5 of Fig. 3 illustrating the method of securement of certain longitudinal bottom slats and partition members to the bottom. frame.

Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation illustrating a crate in accordance with a somewhat modified. embodiment of my invention. r

Fig. '7 is a view in transverse vertical section further illustrating the construction of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view in end elevation illustrating the crate according toa still further modified embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view in section on line corresponding to line 9-9 of Fig. 8, and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective View illustrating details of the end construction and. se-' curement of the slats and partition members shown in the embodiment of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view in section on a' at their crossing points. terminate short of the line corresponding to line I l-I| of Fig. 9, further illustrating details of the structure shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10.

The embodiments of my invention illustrated are especially designed as bottle crates and it will be understood that it is a matter of size or dimensions to accommodate different kinds and sizes of milk bottles, pop bottles and the like.

The structure illustrated in the embodiment of Figs. 1-5 comprises a top border frame I, a bottom border frame 2, and an intermediate border frame 3. The vertical slats 4 are disposed on the inside of and welded to these border frames.

The top border frame is provided with upward offsets 5 at the corners of the crate providing stacking lugs. The corner slats 6 are preferably of a somewhat heavier gauge of stock than the slats 4 and are welded to the inner sides of the offsets 5, as well as the intermediate and bottom frames. Transverse bottom slats l are arranged in parallel relation across the crate, preferably in pairs, and have slight downward offsets 8 at their ends welded to the upper sides of the bottom frame member. These pairs of slats constitute bottoms for the various bottle compartments definedby the partitions to be described, and are spaced accordingly so as to support bottles placed thereon. Longitudinal bottom slats 9 extend beneath the transverse slats 1, being welded thereto, These longitudinal slats ends of the bottom frame 2 and have their ends in offset at a right angle for a purpose to be described. Slats 9 are spaced from one another and from the sides of the crate a distance equal to the width of the compartments thereof.

Crossed transverse and longitudinal top partition members I I and I2 are welded to each other at their crossing points and are provided with downwardly projecting and outwardly inclined arms I3 terminating in relatively short end por tions M which are welded to the upper side of the bottom frame member. The transverse members ll constitute one set of top partition members, and the longitudinal members I2 constitute another set of top partition members. The end portions l4 of the longitudinal partition members 12 are also welded to the upper surface of the laterally offset ends In of the longitudinal bottom slats 9, said surface being slightly above the top of the bottom frame. The offsetting of the ends greatly facilitates the making of this welded connection. The relationship of the longitudinal slat and partition members is clearly shown in Fig. 5. Referring to Fig. 3, it will be noted that longitudinal partition members I 2 are directly over longitudinal bottom slats 9, while the transverse partition members H are located medially of the longitudinal space intervening between adjacent pairs of transverse bottom slats I. These relationships hold in all of the embodiments to be described.

The aforesaid construction elevates the major portion of the partition members substantially above the bottom slats, and their downwardly inclined arms l3 constitute sides for the outer compartments.

To complete the transverse artition structure, I provide, for coaction with the transverse partition members II, the set of double-U shaped bottom partition members constituting compartment side members generally designated l5. In the form illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, these members comprise a pair of U-shaped wire elements l6 disposed immediately below the top partition member with the bights thereof downward and welded to the longitudinal bottom slats 9 at the crossing points. These members l6 have the outer arms thereof offset outwardly at I8 and welded to the transverse partition members H on the lower surface thereof immediately adjacent the down-turned arms IS. The inner arms of the U-shaped members l6 may, if desired, be integrally connected at H! and similarly welded to the intermediate portion of partition member H, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, although in the interests of economy it may be desirable to form these U-shaped members separate from one another and individually weld the adjacent arms thereof to the transverse partition member. This simplifies the operation of fabricating the U shaped parts. It will be understood that the outer arm of the respective U-shaped members l6 coacts with the downwardly inclined arm I3 of the transverse partition member in defining partition sides for the outer compartments of the crate, likewise, the inner arms of the U- shaped member, whether integrally connected or individually Welded to the partition member, constitutes sides for the inner compartments. Taken as a whole the partition structure constituted by member I l and the coacting U-shaped members serve as a whole as a truss which greatly strengthens the crate construction.

For the purpose of completing the longitudinal partition structure I provide the set of lower partition members in the form of down-turned U-shaped wire elements constituting compartment side members which are spaced longitudinally of the longitudinal bottom slats 9, the ends of these elements being welded to the sides of said slats, locating the elements between the slats of each pair of the compartment bottom forming slats I. The bight of the U-shaped lower partition elements 20 is welded at 2| to the longitudinal top partition member 12 immediately beneath the same, hence it will be appreciated that there are no lateral projections on either side of the compartment such as would hinder the insertion of a bottle therein or cause breakage.

With the parts thus bottom and partition arranged the combined unit constituted by the bottom slats 1, 9 and the partition members and elements ll, l6, I2, 20 may be assembled and welded together as an assembled unit, the unit placed in the frame, assembled with the previously assembled border frame members and uprights, and welded thereto. This adds materially to the manufacturing economy. When assembled the structure is very rigid and is capable of withstanding rough usage. The partition members are of very simple, inexpensive formation and assembly, and are so arranged and supported as to provide with the bottom slats and frame members a very rigid trussed structure. Also, the compartments are provided with effective side members so that it is not necessary to employ care in introducing the bottles into the compartments. It is common practice to present the bottles at an angle and without particular care in guiding them into the compartments. The structure illustrated has the advantage of guiding the bottles into the compartments, even under such circumstances.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I show a somewhat modified embodiment of my invention. In this embodiment, likewise in the embodiment of Figs. 8, 9 and 10, to be described, the border frame structure including frame members and vertical slats, is similar to that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, hence it is designated by similar reference numerals. The pairs of transverse bottom slats l are likewise similarly constructed, arranged and secured to the bottom frame member 2. Transverse top partition members II are also employed which have downwardly and outwardly inclined arms I3 adjacent their outer ends offset at M and welded to the top of the bottom frame member. This construction is clearly shown in Fig. 7 and is similar to that of the above described embodiment. Partition members H are arranged intermediate the successive pairs of bottom slats I, as described above.

The transverse partition structure including the top partition members II are completed by a set of lower partition members in the form of vertically arranged wire elements 22 having a plurality of upwardly disposed, elongated, relatively narrow bights 23 welded at their upper ends to the bottom surface of transverse partition member ll, these bights being disposed centrally of each of the inner compartments of the crate. As in the first described embodiment, the sides of the outer crate compartments are constituted by the downturned arms l3 of the partition members. Referring to Fig. 7, it will be noted that the ends of the bight carrying partition members 22 terminate short of the sides of the crate, in fact, only extend far enough to enable the same to be welded to the longitudinal partition structure to be described. This effects considerable saving of material.

The longitudinal partition structure of Figs. 6 and 7 coacting with the members I I, 22, 23, in defining the various compartments, comprises a plurality of bottom partition members in the form of elongated, longitudinally extending Wire members 24 disposed over the top of the transverse slats 1 and welded thereto at the crossing points. These longitudinal members also intersect the portions of the transverse members 22 between the bights 23 thereof and are welded thereto at the said points of intersection. The ends of the elongated members 24 are downwardly offset at 25 and welded to the top of the bottom frame while intermediate these ends the members 24 are provided with spaced upwardly extending elongated bights 26 similar to the bights 23, the bights 26 being spaced similar to the spacing of bights 23 and coacting therewith in defining the inner compartment side members.

Elongated top partition members 21 complete the longitudinal partition structure, these memb rs extending longitudinally of the crate over the partition members I I and being welded thereto at the points of intersection. The ends of the members 21 ar inclined downwardly and outwardly at 28 and welded to the sides of the combined bottom reinforcing and partition members 24 as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6, thereby bracing the structure and at the same time serving to define a side for the outer compartments, in the same manner as the downwardly inclined arms l3. This completes the structure, which has the advantages of Simplicity of parts, economy of the material and welded connections generically characterizing the several embodiments of the invention. The structure is strongly trussed by the partition arrangement described and is exceedingly resistant to distortion, notwithstanding its comparatively light construction. 1

In Figs. 8, 9 and I illustrate a further modified form of my invention wherein the border frame construction including top, bottom and intermediate frame members and vertical slats, likewise the pairs of transverse bottom slats and the transverse partition members are similar to those illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, hence are designated by similar reference numerals. In this embodiment the transverse and longitudinal partition members ll, l2 have the downwardly inclined terminal arms l3 thereof outwardly offset at I4 and welded to the top of the bottom frame 2, in the same manner as in Figs. 1 to 5, however the longitudinal bottom slats 29, which intersect the transverse slats l beneath the same and are welded thereto at the points of intersection, instead of being secured to the offsets of the longitudinal partition members, as in Figs. '1 to 5, are laterally deflected at and welded'to the top of the bottom border frame, further reinforcing the structure.

The transverse partition structure as illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 is completed by a single wire element having an elongated vertical bight 3| welded at its top to the lower surface of th transverse partition member II at 32. The arms of the bight 3| are offset horizontally at the extremity thereof and welded to the top of the longitudinal slats 29 immediately beneath transverse partition member I I, thereby locating members 3| intermediate the successive pairs of transverse slats I. Said member is terminated immediately adjacent its welded connection to the longitudinal bottom slats with the result that only the downwardly inclined arm l3 of the transverse partition members ll functions as the side for the outer compartments of the crate.

The longitudinal partition structure is completed by downturned U-shaped bight elements 33 practically identical in structure and arrangement relative to the longitudinal partition members l2 and the longitudinal bottom slats 29 as th inverted U-shaped elements 20 shown in Fig. 3.

Embodiments of the invention'which incorporate the principles of the invention in a highly desirable manner have been illustrated and described. It should be understood that the foregoing terminology is used descriptively rather than in a limiting sense, and with full intention to include equivalents of the features shown and described, within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a bottle crate, the combination of top and bottom border'frame members and upright slats welded together, bottom slats, certain of said slats being arranged in spaced parallel relation and having downwardly offset ends welded at their ends to the upper side of the bottom frame member, crossed top partition members including a first set of top members and a second set of top members disposed in crossing relation to each other and welded to each other at their crossing points and having downwardly projecting outwardly inclined arms at the ends thereof terminating in relatively short end portions weldingly secured to the upper side of the bottom frame member, a first set and a second set of bottom partition members disposed in vertical planes in crossing relation to each other, said first set of bottom members being disposed in crossing relation to said bottom slats and welded thereto at their crossing points, said first set of bottom partition members having upwardly disposed loops alined with the members of the first set of top partition members and having their bights welded thereto, said loops constituting compartment side members, said second set of bottom partition members including U-shaped compartment side members disposed in crossing relation to said bottom slats and welded thereto at their crossing points and having their arms welded to the members of said second set of top partition members.

2. In a bottle crate, the combination of top and bottom border frame members and upright slats welded together, bottom slats, certain of said salts being arranged in spaced parallel relation and having downwardly offset ends welded at their ends to the upper side of the bottom frame member, crossed top partition members welded to each other at their crossing points and having downwardly projecting outwardly inclined arms at the ends thereof terminating in relatively short end portions weldingly secured to the upper side of the bottom frame member, a first set of bottom partition members disposed in crossing relation to said bottom slats and welded thereto at their crossing points, said bottom partition members having upwardly disposed loops alined with certain of said crossed top partition members and having their bights welded thereto, said loops constituting compartment side members, and a second set of bottom partition members forming other compartment side members disposed in crossing relation to said bottom slats, said other compartment side members including partition elements vertically alined with and welded to other of said crossed top partition members.

3. In a bottle crate, the combination of top and bottom border frame members and upright slats welded together, bottom slats arranged in spaced relation and secured to the bottom frame member, crossed top partition members welded to each other at their crossing points and having each downwardly projecting arms at the ends thereof welded to the bottom frame member, the downwardly projecting portions of said arms being spaced inwardly a substantial distance from the sides of the crate to define compartment sides in the lower portion of the crate, bottom partition members disposed in vertical planes in crossing relation to each other and vertically coplanar with said crossed top partition members, said bottom partition members each having loops thereon alined with certain of said crossed top partition members and welded thereto, said loops constituting compartment side members.

4. In a bottle crate, the combination of top and bottom border frame members and upright slats, bottom slats arranged in spaced parallel relation and secured at their ends to the bottom frame member, crossed top partition members including a first set of top members and a second set of top members disposed in crossing relation to each other and secured to each other at their crossing points and having downwardly projecting outwardly inclined arms at the ends connected to the bottom frame member, a first set of bottom partition members secured to the said bottom frame member and disposed in crossing relation to said bottom slats and welded thereto at their crossing points, said bottom partition members having vertically disposed loops alined with the members of said first set of top partition members and welded thereto, said loops constituting compartment side members and supporting members for said partition members, and a second set of bottom partition members including U- shaped compartment side members disposed in crossing relation to said first set of bottom partition members and welded thereto at their crossing points and having their arms welded to the members of said second set of top partition members, said U-shaped members constituting supporting members for said last mentioned top partition members.

5. In a bottle crate, the combination of top and bottom border frame members and upright slats connecting said frame members, bottom slats arranged in spaced parallel relation and secured at their ends to the bottom fram member, crossed top partition members secured to each other at their crossing points and having downwardly projecting outwardly inclined arms at the ends connected to the bottom frame member, the downward and outward inclination of said arms extending substantially to the bottom border frame member, lower partition members disposed in vertical planes in crossing relation to each other, certain of said bottom partition members being disposed in crossing relation to said bottom slats and Welded thereto, said bottom partition members having vertically disposed loops alined with certain of said top partition members and welded thereto, said loops constituting compartment side members and supporting members for said certain top partition members.

6. In a bottle crate, the combination of top and bottom border frame members and upright slats connecting said frame members, bottom slats arranged in spaced parallel relation and se cured at their ends to the bottom frame member, crossed top partition members secured to each other at their crossing points and having downwardly projecting. outwardly inclined arms at the ends connected to the bottom frame member, the downward and outward inclination of said arms extending substantially 'to the bottom border frame member, a first set of bottom partition members secured at their ends to the said bottom frame member and disposed in crossing relation to said bottom slats, said bottom partition membershaving upwardly disposed loops alined with certain of said top partition-members and secured thereto, said loops constituting compartment side members and supporting members for said certain top partition members, and a second set of lower partition members constituting other compartment side members disposed in crossing relation to said first set of bottom partition members and welded to the latter at their crossing points, and having arms welded to other of the top partition members, said last named side members constituting supporting members for said other top partition members.

7. In a bottle crate, the combination of top and bottom border frame members and upright slats connecting said frame members, bottom slats arranged in spaced parallel relation and secured at their ends to the bottom frame member, crossed top partition members secured to each other at their crossing points and having downwardly projecting outwardly inclined arms at the ends connected to the bottom frame member, the downward and outward inclination of said arms extending substantially to the bottom border frame member, bottom partition members secured at their ends to the said bottom frame member and disposed in crossing relation to said bottom slats and welded thereto at their crossing points, said bottom partition members having upwardly disposed loops alined with certain of said top partition members and having their bights welded thereto, said loops constituting compartment side members and supporting members for said certain top partition members.

8. In abottle crate, the combination of top and bottom border frame members and upright slats connecting, said frame members, bottom slats arranged in spaced parallel relation and secured at their ends to the bottom frame member, crossed top partition members secured to each other at their crossing points and having downwardly projecting outwardly inclined arms at the ends connected to the bottom frame member, the downward and outward inclination of said arms extending substantially to the bottom border frame member, and bottom partition members secured at theirends to the said bottom frame member, said bottom partition members having upwardly disposed members alined with certain of said top partition members and secured thereto, said upwardly disposed members constituting compartment side members and supporting members for said partition members.

DEWEY H. 'BITNEY. 

